Letter: Fall River and the state of uncertainty

Friday

May 30, 2014 at 8:17 PM

“State of uncertainty” were the words used by Ken Fiola Jr., from the Fall River Office of Economic Development, in the City Council meeting of Monday, May 28, at citizens input time referring to the water/sewer system budget, but in reality, this phrase should be used on all aspects of the city budget and not only the water department.

“State of uncertainty” were the words used by Ken Fiola Jr., from the Fall River Office of Economic Development, in the City Council meeting of Monday, May 28, at citizens input time referring to the water/sewer system budget, but in reality, this phrase should be used on all aspects of the city budget and not only the water department.

For anyone to understand what really goes on with Fall River’s 2015 budget, one has to know how to perform magic and or be capable to perform a miracle, and none of these are an easy task. In fact, I would say that is an impossible task.

Let’s start with a deficit of $16 million, which miraculously was reduced by $13 million, leaving a deficit of “only” $3 million.

The School Department asked for $99 million and was able to get $97 million creating a shortage of $2 million to be full funded. However, the administration promised the other $2 million before the end of Fiscal 2015. A miracle has to happen!

The Fire Department was going to be reduced to 153 firefighters, but all of a sudden, that number was changed to 175.

The Law Department has claims related to potholes of about $50,000 — money that we may have to pay — but one way or the other, this is an expense added to the deficit and that requires another miracle due to the fact that the city is broken.

Meanwhile, our school system is in disarray: 31 students per class creates a community of illiterates. Thus businesses have no qualified people in the city to fulfill existing vacancies and they either look outside or move out.

To aggravate the situation, the City Council and the administration are at odds with the budget for the water/sewer department, and anyone trying to do business in Fall River feels discouraged by the state of politics and uncertainty.

Only four weeks separate us from Fisca 2015 and for a budget of this size, a miracle needs to happen to have it on time.